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Chances are highly unlikely you’d ever catch Cinderella’s helpers sending out seal and send invitations for her highly formal wedding to Prince Charming.

Seal and send invitations are relative newcomers onto the wedding invitation scene, and they consist of a single piece of card stock that contains all the necessary information. You simply fold it in thirds, secure it closed with an included seal then pop it in the mail.

While seal and send invitations may lack the highly formal vibe you get with traditional wedding invitations, they do have a number of benefits.

No complicated components

At the very least, traditional wedding invites typically include the invitation, the invitation’s envelope, an RSVP card and the RSVP card’s envelope. Some may contain a photo of the happy couple or a map to the wedding destination.

While all these components can add to the formal vibe guests can expect from the actual event, they can also be a major hassle.

Not only are guests prone to losing one or more of the components, but whomever is stuck stuffing all those components into their little envelopes has one heck of a job to complete. Seal and send invitations remove the hassle and chances of losing the components by delivering all required information in one fell swoop. Most versions even come with a perforated RSVP card guests can simply fill out, detach and send back as a postcard.

Lower cost

Fewer components mean fewer things to pay for, making seal and send invitations typically less expensive than their traditional counterparts. Instead of paying separately for the invitations, the envelopes, the RSVP cards and envelopes, and any inserts, the seal and send option gives you one cost for the entire setup.

Limited versatility

One of the drawbacks of the seal and send option is the limited versatility. Traditional wedding invitations let you select a specific size, shape and design for the invite, along with your choice of envelopes and enclosures.

Seal and send invitations offer a variety of designs, but you can’t mix and match components because there are no components to mix and match.

Either type of invitation will certainly do the job of making sure people know about your upcoming wedding. Weighing the pros and cons of both can help you select the type that works best for you. Check out your choices at PaperDirect.com. 

When it comes to planning a wedding, details matter. And one of those details is ensuring guests know how to get to your location with a map. Wondering just how to put a map on your wedding invitations? Check out three different options.

Hire a Designer

Hiring a designer to take over the map duties, or even the duty of creating the entire invitation, may be the easiest option. But it can also be the most expensive option that causes you to miss out on all the fun.

Copy a Google Map image.

If you’re fairly adept on your PC, you can create your map by simply copying and pasting an image from Google Maps.

1. Search for your address on Google Maps and get an image of the map on your screen.
2. Zoom in or out to adjust the level of detail you want.
3. Find the “Snipping Tool” in your lineup of computer programs.
4. Select “New Snip” from the file menu on the little box that appears on your screen.
5. Drag the cursor on the screen to create a box around the map area you want to copy. This gives you a pop-up screen containing your selected area.
6. Select “Save” from the file menu on your pop-up screen to save the image as a JPEG.
7. Get ready to insert the JPEG into your custom wedding invitation layout to add your map.

Does hiring a designer sound good yet?

Actually, the process is not that difficult and it gives you a full-color, fully-detailed map of your area. You can open the JPEG in a photo editing program to add an icon or exact address for your location, adjust the coloring, or change the image from color to black and white.

Trace a Simple Map.

Another option is to get a Google Map printout of your map or an old-school paper map and trace a simple map of your location. Place tracing paper over the area you want to target, then use markers of varying widths to create fat freeways and thin smaller streets. Write in your address next to a little icon of your house.

You can then scan the map into your computer and adjust as needed, saving the image as a JPEG or head to a copy shop for help sizing the image. Review more detailed tracing instructions on a YouTube wedding map tutorial:

However you choose to add a map to your wedding invitation, your guests are likely to be thankful that you did. You can also have fun doing so, thanks to the variety of wedding invitation layouts and stationery you can customize at PaperDirect.

Your desire to make your magical day extra special might make you feel pressured to expend a lot of money – on decorations, that perfect dress, the fairy-tale venue, and divine catering. Weddings, are indeed, quite costly occasions, but you can tamp down the expenditures by saving money on your customized wedding invitations without sacrificing quality or style at PaperDirect.

Regardless of the style, pattern, or colors that you are looking for to match your event’s scheme, you’ll discover the largest selection of high-quality invitations printed on premium stock at prices that will make your budget sing. Savings that are even more amazing are yours if you opt to print your own wedding invitations on pre-cut stock from PaperDirect.

Choose Your Wedding Invitation Style

Do you want something simple and to the point? Take a peek at PaperDirect’s vast selection of casual, flat, and basic fold up wedding invitations designed to sway them to “save the date” without breaking the bank. A variety of shapes, styles, and matching envelopes and sticker seals gives you complete freedom to make the impression you want upon your potential guests.

Folded, layered, and pocket-folded invitations make an authentically classy statement and are perfect for more extravagant and elegant affairs. You will come across matching response cards and wedding reception cards along with an extensive selection of fabulous wedding invitations that will be custom printed to your specifications at prices you can afford.

Make Your Own Wedding Invitations for Extensive Savings

Print your own wedding invitations that start in the $22-28 range, and you’ll enjoy immense savings! Choose the design that melts your heart, and design your own invites for the big day. You’ll unearth a huge selection of printable wedding invitations at PaperDirect, along with clever tools to help stylize your do-it-yourself invitations from start to finish!

Discover the best selection of wedding invitations at super prices that just cannot be beat at PaperDirect. Wedding stationery needs can be checked off the “to do” list, and you can focus on saying “I Do” with Paper Direct – your one-stop wedding and reception paper goods supply store. You will also find clever wedding party gifts, thank you cards, and so much more. Shop PaperDirect today!